A depraved ex-con is facing life in prison for trying to rape a 74-year-old woman in East Harlem on Tuesday, prosecutors said.
Angel Hernandez, 50, was held on $200,000 bail Wednesday after being hit with attempted rape, sex abuse and assault charges in the grisly attack inside a Lexington Ave. building.
“(He) dragged her into an elevator and got naked except for his socks,” Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Andrew Stengel said.
A witness called 911 and the attack was thwarted by two responding police officers who pulled open the elevator door and found Hernandez on top of his victim, officials said.
Before the cops arrived, Hernandez removed his clothes and the victim’s clothes and tried to force himself on her, putting his hands on her neck and his knee on her ribs after she resisted, according to the criminal complaint.
The victim suffered minor injuries.
Police say Hernandez has a record of crimes dating to 1998.
The Manhattan man had been released from prison just two months ago, according to prosecutors.
Hernandez appeared in court wearing a navy sweatshirt, corduroy pants and flip-flops.
He could face a life sentence because of his violent felony record, prosecutors said.
Residents of the Johnson Houses, the public housing development where the alleged attack occurred, were floored by news of the attack.
“(Hernandez) picked her because she’s vulnerable. She can’t do anything – she’s frail,” said Connie Ruiz, 66, who added the victim and her husband are a familiar sight in the neighborhood as they make their rounds collecting cans. “People are going to attack the elderly because they’re defenseless.”
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